Power-feeding device

ABSTRACT

To minimize excessively high output or increases in magnetic-flux leakage by controlling power feeding on the power-feeding side if an unforeseen situation occurs. This power-feeding device (100) feeds power to an external power-receiving device (150) in a contactless manner. A power-feeding coil (103) uses electromagnetic power to feed electrical power to a power-receiving coil (154) in the power-receiving device (150). While power is being fed from said power-feeding coil (103), a power-feeding-side control unit (107) determines the amount of displacement of the power-feeding coil (103) and, on the basis of the determined displacement amount, controls the amount of electrical power being fed.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/778,425 filed Sep. 18, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a power supply apparatus that supplies power to an external power receiving section using an electromagnetic force in a wireless manner.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, wireless power supply systems have been known in which power is supplied while a power supply coil and a power receiving coil are placed facing each other in a wireless manner. In such wireless power supply systems, when vibration is added to the power supply side during power supply due to an earthquake or the like, the position of the power supply coil changes.

For example, in a wireless power supply system that supplies power to a power storage apparatus mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle, a power supply apparatus is installed on the ground. In this case, when an earthquake occurs or when a large vehicle passes by, vibration occurs in the power supply apparatus and the position of the power supply coil changes. When a wireless power supply system to supply power to a portable device is mounted on a mobile unit such as a vehicle, vibration occurs and the position of the power supply coil changes as the mobile unit moves.

When the position of the power supply coil changes during power supply, coupling between the power supply coil and the power receiving coil changes, causing excessive output or an increase in magnetic flux leakage.

Conventionally, wireless power supply systems configured to stop a charging section mounted on the vehicle when an unexpected situation such as an earthquake occurs have been known (e.g., FIG. 10 in Patent Literature (hereinafter, referred to as “PTL”) 1). When an unexpected situation occurs, the wireless power supply system of PTL 1 performs control of stopping power supply to a power storage apparatus by ECU. When resumption of the power supply is impossible, the power receiving side notifies the power supply side through communication that the power supply stops. Thus, the technique in PTL 1 can reduce excessive output or an increase in magnetic flux leakage associated with a change in the coupling between the power supply coil and the power receiving coil.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature PTL 1 WO 2010/137145 SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, according to PTL 1, since the power receiving side performs control of stopping power supply, it takes a considerable time until the power supply stops after an unexpected situation occurs. Thus, there is a problem that it is not possible to reduce excessive output or an increase in magnetic flux leakage for this time period.

An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply apparatus capable of minimizing excessive output or an increase in magnetic flux leakage by controlling power supply on the power supply side when an unexpected situation occurs.

Solution to Problem

A power supply apparatus according to the present invention supplies power to an external power receiving section in a wireless manner, the power supply apparatus including: a power supply coil that supplies power to a power receiving coil of the power receiving section using an electromagnetic force; and a control section that controls an amount of power supply based on an amount of displacement of the power supply coil when power is supplied from the power supply coil.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to minimize excessive output or an increase in magnetic flux leakage by controlling the amount of power supply on the power supply side when an unexpected situation occurs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a power supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a power supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of acceleration sensors according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment

<Configuration of Power Supply System>

A configuration of power supply system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIG. 1.

Power supply system 10 is mainly composed of power supply apparatus 100, power receiving apparatus 150 and power supply target 160.

Power supply apparatus 100 supplies power to power receiving apparatus 150.

By receiving power supply from power supply apparatus 100, power receiving apparatus 150 supplies power to power supply target 160.

Power supply target 160 is a load or battery, for example.

Power supply system 10 is used when charging in a wireless manner a battery which is mounted on a vehicle, when charging in a wireless manner a battery incorporated in an electric device such as a mobile phone or when supplying power to a load such as a motor to drive the load. When a vehicle-mounted battery is charged in a wireless manner, power supply apparatus 100 is installed on the ground such as a parking area and power receiving apparatus 150 is mounted on a vehicle.

<Configuration of Power Supply Apparatus>

A configuration of power supply apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIG. 1.

Power supply apparatus 100 is mainly composed of power supply 101, inverter 102, power supply coil 103, power-supply-side communication section 104, acceleration sensor 105, angular velocity sensor 106, and power-supply-side control section 107.

Power supply 101 supplies power to inverter 102.

Inverter 102 converts DC power supplied from power supply 101 to AC power under the control of power-supply-side control section 107 and supplies a predetermined amount of AC power to power supply coil 103. Inverter 102 changes the amount of power supplied to power supply coil 103 under the control of power-supply-side control section 107.

Upon receiving power supply from inverter 102, power supply coil 103 supplies power to power receiving coil 154. Power supply coil 103 and power receiving coil 154 are planar spiral coils, for example. Power supply coil 103 supplies power in the amount of power corresponding to the amount of power supplied from inverter 102. When supplying power, power supply coil 103 is magnetically coupled with power receiving coil 154 while facing power receiving coil 154. Power supply coil 103 supplies power to power receiving coil 154 according to, for example, an electromagnetic induction scheme or magnetic resonance scheme using an electromagnetic force.

Power-supply-side communication section 104 exchanges information relating to power supply start or power supply stop with power-receiving-side communication section 153 under the control of power-supply-side control section 107 through wireless communication. Power-supply-side communication section 104 outputs, on the basis of the exchanged information, to power-supply-side control section 107, a signal indicating that power supply is possible or a signal indicating that power supply is not possible.

Acceleration sensor 105 is installed in the periphery of power supply coil 103. Acceleration sensor 105 detects acceleration of power supply apparatus 100 and outputs the detection value to power-supply-side control section 107. By detecting the acceleration of power supply apparatus 100, acceleration sensor 105 detects acceleration of power supply coil 103. Acceleration sensor 105 is, for example, a triaxial acceleration sensor that can detect acceleration in three mutually orthogonal axial directions.

Angular velocity sensor 106 is installed in the periphery of power supply coil 103. Angular velocity sensor 106 detects an angular velocity of power supply apparatus 100 and outputs the detection value to power-supply-side control section 107. By detecting the angular velocity of power supply apparatus 100, angular velocity sensor 106 detects an angular velocity of power supply coil 103. Angular velocity sensor 106 is, for example, a triaxial angular velocity sensor that can detect angular velocities in three mutually orthogonal axial directions.

Upon receiving a signal indicating that power supply is possible from power-supply-side communication section 104, power-supply-side control section 107 controls inverter 102 so as to supply the power of power supply 101 to power supply coil 103. Upon receiving a signal indicating that power supply is not possible from power-supply-side communication section 104, power-supply-side control section 107 controls inverter 102 so as to stop the power supply from power supply 101 to power supply coil 103.

During power supply during which power is being supplied from power supply 101 to power supply coil 103, power-supply-side control section 107 accumulates detection values indicating the displacement of power supply coil 103 received from acceleration sensor 105 or angular velocity sensor 106 for a predetermined time, and thereby calculates the amount of displacement of power supply coil 103. Power-supply-side control section 107 controls inverter 102 based on the calculated amount of displacement, and thereby controls the amount of power supply.

More specifically, when the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than a threshold, power-supply-side control section 107 controls inverter 102 so that the amount of power supplied to power supply coil 103 becomes small compared to the case where the amount of displacement is smaller than the threshold. Furthermore, when the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than the threshold, power-supply-side control section 107 controls inverter 102 so as to stop power supply to power supply coil 103. Furthermore, when the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than threshold A but less than threshold B (threshold B>threshold A), power-supply-side control section 107 controls inverter 102 so that the amount of power supplied to power supply coil 103 is reduced compared to the case where the amount of displacement is less than threshold A, and power-supply-side control section 107 controls inverter 102 so as to stop the power supply to power supply coil 103 when the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than threshold B. Here, stopping power supply means reducing the amount of power supplied from power supply coil 103 to “zero”.

Note that, for example, when charging system 10 is mounted on a vehicle, an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor provided for a car navigation apparatus may be also used as acceleration sensor 105 and angular velocity sensor 106.

<Configuration of Power Receiving Apparatus>

A configuration of power receiving apparatus 150 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIG. 1.

Power receiving apparatus 150 is mainly composed of power-receiving-side control section 151, inverter 152, power-receiving-side communication section 153 and power receiving coil 154.

Upon receiving a signal indicating that power supply is possible from power-receiving-side communication section 153, power-receiving-side control section 151 controls inverter 152 so as to supply the power received by power receiving coil 154 to power supply target 160. Upon receiving a signal indicating that power supply is not possible from power-receiving-side communication section 153, power-receiving-side control section 151 controls inverter 152 so as to stop supplying the power received by power receiving coil 154 to power supply target 160.

Inverter 152 converts AC power supplied from power receiving coil 154 to DC power under the control of power-receiving-side control section 151 and supplies the DC power to power supply target 160. Note that, a rectifier using a diode, for example, may also be used to convert AC to DC instead of inverter 152.

Power-receiving-side communication section 153 exchanges information relating to power supply start or power supply stop with power-supply-side communication section 104 through wireless communication under the control of power-receiving-side control section 151. Based on the exchanged information, power-receiving-side communication section 153 outputs a signal indicating that power supply is possible or a signal indicating that power supply is not possible to power-receiving-side control section 151.

Power receiving coil 154 receives power from power supply coil 103.

<Operation of Power Supply Apparatus>

An operation of power supply apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIG. 2.

First, power supply apparatus 100 determines whether or not there is a power-supply-start instruction (step ST201).

When there is no power-supply-start instruction (step ST201: No), power supply apparatus 100 repeats the process in step ST201.

On the other hand, in power supply apparatus 100, when there is a power-supply-start instruction (step ST201: Yes), power-supply-side control section 107 determines whether or not power supply is possible by receiving a signal indicating that power supply is possible (step ST202). Upon receiving a signal indicating that power supply is possible, power-supply-side control section 107 determines that power supply is possible and upon receiving a signal indicating that power supply is not possible, power-supply-side control section 107 determines that power supply is not possible.

When power supply is not possible (step ST202: No), power supply apparatus 100 ends the process.

On the other hand, when power supply is possible (step ST202: Yes), power supply apparatus 100 sets a power supply condition (step ST203) and starts power supply (step ST204).

Next, in power supply apparatus 100, power-supply-side control section 107 determines whether or not a displacement of power supply coil 103 has been detected (step ST205). Upon receiving a detection value from acceleration sensor 105 or angular velocity sensor 106, power-supply-side control section 107 determines that a displacement has been detected. Here, the term “displacement” refers to a positional change.

In power supply apparatus 100, when no displacement of power supply coil 103 has been detected (step ST205: No), power-supply-side control section 107 determines whether or not an overcurrent or overvoltage has occurred (step ST206).

On the other hand, in power supply apparatus 100, when a displacement of power supply coil 103 has been detected (step ST205: Yes), power-supply-side control section 107 determines whether or not the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than threshold A (step ST207).

When the amount of displacement is less than threshold A (step ST207: No), power supply apparatus 100 proceeds to a process in step ST206.

On the other hand, in power supply apparatus 100, when the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than threshold A (step ST207: Yes), power-supply-side control section 107 determines whether or not the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than threshold B (threshold B>threshold A) (step ST208).

In power supply apparatus 100, when the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than threshold B (step ST208: Yes), power-supply-side control section 107 performs control so as to stop power supply from power supply coil 103 (step ST209) and ends the process.

On the other hand, in power supply apparatus 100, when the amount of displacement is less than threshold B (step ST208: No), power-supply-side control section 107 performs control so that the amount of power supply from power supply coil 103 is reduced compared to the case where the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than threshold B (step ST210), and then proceeds to step ST206.

In step ST206 when an overcurrent or overvoltage has occurred (step ST206: Yes), power supply apparatus 100 performs control so as to stop power supply from power supply coil 103 (step ST209) and ends the process.

On the other hand, when no overcurrent or overvoltage has occurred in step ST206 (step ST206: No), power supply apparatus 100 determines whether or not a power-supply-stop instruction has been received from the outside (step ST211).

When a power-supply-stop instruction has been received from the outside (step ST211: Yes), power supply apparatus 100 performs control so as to stop power supply from power supply coil 103 (step ST209), and ends the process.

On the other hand, when no power-supply-stop instruction has been received (step ST211: No), power supply apparatus 100 returns to the process in step ST205.

Note that in FIG. 2, when the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than threshold B, the power supply is stopped to end the process, but power supply may be resumed when the amount of displacement is less than threshold B after stopping the power supply.

<Arrangement of Acceleration Sensors>

An arrangement of acceleration sensors 105 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement of acceleration sensors 105 as seen from a direction in which power supply coil 103 and power receiving coil 154 face each other (direction shown by arrow 51 in FIG. 1).

For example, in the case where one acceleration sensor 105 detects a displacement of power supply coil 103, in a rotation around acceleration sensor 105, the position of power supply coil 103 with respect to power receiving coil 154 is shifted regardless of acceleration “zero” and the state of coupling between power supply coil 103 and power receiving coil 154 changes.

In order to solve the above problem, three acceleration sensors 105 a, 105 b and 105 c are arranged in the manner shown in FIG. 3. That is, acceleration sensors 105 a, 105 b and 105 c are arranged at vertices of triangle E1 respectively. Thus, power supply apparatus 100 can detect a displacement in all directions of power supply coil 103.

Note that instead of arranging three acceleration sensors 105 a, 105 b and 105 c as shown in FIG. 3, power supply apparatus 100 can detect the displacement of power supply coil 103 in all directions using one acceleration sensor 105 a capable of detecting acceleration in triaxial directions and one angular velocity sensor 106 capable of detecting angular velocities in triaxial directions.

Although three acceleration sensors 105 a, 105 b and 105 c are arranged at vertices of triangle E1 respectively, the acceleration sensors may also be arranged at vertices of a polygon other than a triangle unless a plurality of acceleration sensors are arranged on a single straight line. The acceleration sensors are arranged at vertices of a polygon because when a plurality of acceleration sensors are arranged on a single straight line, if a displacement that rotates around this straight line as the axis of rotation occurs, it is no longer possible to detect the displacement.

Moreover, when acceleration sensor 105 is arranged as shown in FIG. 3, angular velocity sensor 106 may be omitted.

As long as displacements and rotations in triaxial directions of power supply coil 103 can be detected, any given number of acceleration sensors 105 and angular velocity sensors 106 can be arranged in any given arrangement.

When a mechanical restricting section for restricting a displacement in a specific one or multiple directions is provided separately, and a displacement in a direction in which the section for restricting the displacement thereby need not be detected, or when the influence of the displacement on the power supply is sufficiently small, the number of axes of acceleration sensors 105 and angular velocity sensor 106 may be fewer than three or one of acceleration sensor 105 and angular velocity sensor 106 may be omitted.

<Threshold to be Compared with Amount of Displacement of Power Supply Coil>

A threshold with which the amount of displacement of power supply coil 103 according to the embodiment of the present invention is compared will be described.

When a mechanical restricting section for restricting a displacement of power supply coil 103 is provided or a mechanical restricting section for restricting a relative displacement between power supply coil 103 and power receiving coil 154 is provided separately, it is possible to make a threshold to be compared with the amount of displacement of power supply coil 103 with respect to the direction in which the restricting section is provided greater than a threshold to be compared with the amount of displacement of power supply coil 103 with respect to another direction.

Examples of the mechanical restricting section include a member that comes into contact with power supply apparatus 100 when power supply apparatus 100 displaces to prevent further a displacement of power supply apparatus 100 or a member that restricts a relative displacement between power supply coil 103 and power receiving coil 154.

Thus, when power supply coil 103 displaces in the direction in which the restricting section is provided, or when the relative displacement between power supply coil 103 and power receiving coil 154 by provision of the restricting section is small, and in a situation in which continuation of power supply poses no problem, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the amount of power supply or the power supply from being stopped.

Effects of Present Embodiment

The present embodiment controls power supply on the power supply side when an unexpected situation occurs and can thereby minimize excessive output or an increase in magnetic flux leakage.

The present embodiment arranges the acceleration sensors at vertices of a polygon respectively, and can thereby detect a displacement of power supply coil 103 in all detections.

The present embodiment uses triaxial gyroscopes as angular velocity sensors 106, and can thereby reduce the number of sensors for detecting a displacement of power supply coil 103 and reduce the manufacturing cost.

The present embodiment reduces the amount of power supply when the amount of displacement of power supply coil 103 is equal to or greater than threshold A but less than threshold B, and can thereby reduce the frequency with which power supply is stopped compared to a case where power supply is immediately stopped.

Variations of Present Embodiment

The present embodiment reduces the amount of power supply when the amount of displacement of power supply coil 103 is equal to or greater than threshold A but less than threshold B, but the power supply may be immediately stopped when the amount of displacement of power supply coil 103 is equal to or greater than threshold A.

The present embodiment detects a displacement of power supply coil 103 using acceleration sensor 105 or angular velocity sensor 106, but any given sensor can be used if this can detect a displacement of power supply coil 103.

In the present embodiment, the installation location of the power supply apparatus is not limited to the ground but may be a mobile unit such as an automobile, railway vehicle, aircraft, ship or playground equipment. In this case, for example, the power receiving side may be a small electronic device such as a portable device.

In the present embodiment, the power supply coil and the power receiving coil are assumed to be planar spiral coils, but any coil other than the spiral coil may be used if this is a coil which can transmit and/or receive power, and a solenoid coil may be used, for example.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-060080, filed on Mar. 22, 2013, including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is suitable for use in a power supply apparatus that supplies power to an external power receiving section using an electromagnetic force in a wireless manner.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   10 Power supply system -   100 Power supply apparatus -   101 Power supply -   102 Inverter -   103 Power supply coil -   104 Power-supply-side communication section -   105 Acceleration sensor -   106 Angular velocity sensor -   107 Power-supply-side control section -   150 Power receiving apparatus -   151 Power-receiving-side control section -   152 Inverter -   153 Power-receiving-side communication section -   154 Power receiving coil -   160 Power supply target 

1. A power supply apparatus comprising: a power supply coil that supplies power to an external power receiving coil in a wireless manner using an electromagnetic force; and a controller that controls an amount of power supply based on an amount of displacement of a position of the power supply coil with respect to the power receiving coil when vibration is added to the power supply apparatus when power is supplied from the power supply coil, wherein, when the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than a threshold, the controller reduces the amount of power supply compared to a case where the amount of displacement is less than the threshold.
 2. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor that detects a displacement of the power supply coil, wherein the controller calculates the amount of the displacement from an accumulation of displacements detected by the sensor for a predetermined time.
 3. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensor detects an acceleration of the power supply coil as the displacement.
 4. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensor detects an angular velocity of the power supply coil as the displacement. 